Headwear system

ABSTRACT

A headwear system for protecting a user includes a crown portion and a brim portion. The crown portion has interior and exterior surfaces bound by a perimeter and the crown portion is configured to absorb shock to a head of a wearer in the event of an impact and has a concave surface and a convex surface having an apex. The brim portion is coupled to the crown portion at the perimeter and is configured to shade portions of a user&#39;s head, neck and face from sun while shedding water in a directed and/or controlled manner. A method for producing a hat includes forming a crown portion, forming a brim portion coupled to the crown portion and applying a rubber coating to the crown portion and the brim portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/458,190 filed on Feb. 13, 2017 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/577,027 filed on Oct. 25, 2017 which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

SUMMARY

The disclosure seeks to provide a headwear system for protecting a user. The headwear system includes a crown portion and a brim portion. The crown portion has interior and exterior surfaces bound by a perimeter and the crown portion is configured to absorb shock to a head of a wearer in the event of an impact and includes a material resistant to ultraviolet degradation, a concave surface and a convex surface having an apex. The brim portion is coupled to the crown portion at the perimeter and is configured to shade portions of a user's head, neck and face from sun while shedding water in a directed and/or controlled manner. The brim portion further includes a material resistant to ultraviolet degradation. A band of material wraps the crown portion near the perimeter. Regions of the crown portion, regions of the brim portion or both further include a visually striking feature. Upon application of pressure to the apex, the apex is configured to transition from one side of a plane defined through the perimeter to the other side of the plane, the concave surface is configured to become convex and the convex surface is configured to become concave.

The disclosure also seeks to provide a hat including a crown portion having interior and exterior surfaces bound by a perimeter and a brim portion coupled to the crown portion at the perimeter. The brim portion further includes a front region, a back region, two side regions between the front and back regions, inferior and superior surfaces and a water-draining feature.

The disclosure further seeks to provide a method for producing a hat. The method includes forming a crown portion having interior and exterior surfaces bound by a perimeter and forming a brim portion coupled to the crown portion at the perimeter so as to include a front region, a back region, two side regions between the front and back regions, as well as inferior and superior surfaces. The method also includes applying a rubber coating to the crown portion and the brim portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The summary above, as well as the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the disclosure, example constructions of the disclosure are shown in the drawings. However, the disclosure is not limited to specific methods and instrumentalities disclosed herein. Moreover, those in the art will understand that the drawings are not to scale. Wherever possible, like elements have been indicated by identical numbers.

Embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following diagrams wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a top left isometric view of a user wearing an example headwear system in the form of a hat.

FIG. 2 illustrates a bottom right isometric view of the example hat of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of the example hat of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 illustrates a rear view of the example hat of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 illustrates a left side view of the example hat of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 illustrates a right side view of the example hat of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 illustrates a top view of the example hat of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 illustrates a bottom view of the example hat of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 illustrates transition of an example hat from a wearable state to a crushed state and back to the wearable state.

FIG. 10 illustrates reversibility of an example hat.

FIG. 11 illustrates a top left isometric view of an example hat in accordance with a second embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 12 illustrates a bottom right isometric view of the example hat of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 illustrates a top left isometric view of a user wearing an example hat in accordance with a third embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 14 illustrates a front view of a user wearing an example hat in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 15 illustrates flow of an example method for producing hat in accordance with the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description illustrates embodiments of the disclosure and manners by which they may be implemented. Although the best mode of carrying out the disclosure has been described, those skilled in the art would recognize that other embodiments for carrying out or practicing the disclosure are also possible.

It should be noted that the terms “first”, “second”, and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another. Further, the terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.

Known hats that provide sun protection are made of cotton, straw, and/or felt and are not designed to be used in water which can easily damage them. These hats also lose their shape and become heavy and uncomfortable when wet. Currently, there are no hats available which are designed to quickly drain water from the brim portion so that a hat remains light, warm, and comfortable in the water, while also providing protection from the harmful rays of the sun.

Further, known hats do not provide cushioning to the head and/or neck in the event of a fall around wet, slippery poolside surfaces. Additionally, known hats are not designed to increase visibility of the swimmers in the water, so that, for example, parents may be more able to determine the location of their children in the water.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide a headwear system in the form of a wide-brimmed hat with a sun protection factor and arranged to offer a number of novel functions. A first function allows the user to wear the hat comfortably in the water, draining water quickly and easily from the hat after the user has emerged from beneath the surface of the water.

A second function provides protection to the user's head and/or neck area from slips and falls on hard surfaces. The hat is constructed to absorb the impact of such falls by using a soft, rubbery material with adequate thickness on the crown portion of the hat to provide a cushion to the head in the event of a fall. The crown portion of the hat provides adequate coverage to the head and stays in place in the event of a fall.

A third function of the hat is to provide better visibility of swimmers who are being supervised by, for example, parents, guardians or lifeguards.

Embodiments of the disclosure substantially eliminate, or at least partially address, problems in the prior art, enabling draining of water from a brim portion of a hat so that the hat remains light, warm, and comfortable in the water, while also maintaining its shape and providing protection from the harmful rays of the sun.

Additional aspects, advantages, features and objects of the disclosure will be made apparent from the drawings and the detailed description of the illustrative embodiments construed in conjunction with the appended claims that follow.

FIGS. 1-8 illustrate an example hat 100 in accordance with the disclosure. Hat 100 includes a crown portion 110 having interior and exterior surfaces bound by a perimeter 111 and a brim portion 120 coupled to crown portion 110 at perimeter 111 and including a front region, a back region, two side regions between the front and back regions, as well as inferior 123 and superior 121 surfaces. In an example, brim portion 120 has a width sufficient to protect portions of a user's head, neck and face from sun. Crown portion 110 includes a concave surface and a convex surface with an apex 115. A band 130 of material may wrap crown portion 110 near perimeter 111.

A water-draining feature 125 is formed in brim portion 120 and may include two points, two corners, a notch, or a combination of these. In an example, water draining feature 125 is formed in the back region of brim portion 120 and enables water to quickly drain off when a user emerges from swimming, shedding water in a directed and/or controlled manner.

Hat 100 may be constructed from a material having low water permeability, low density, high flexibility and excellent thermal insulation properties. Hat 100 may include a material configured to absorb shock so as to protect a head of a wearer by absorbing energy in the event of a foreign object impacting hat 100 or in the event of the user falling or in the event of some other impact to the head of the user.

In an example, the material of construction is a firm, closed cell, polyethylene foam. For example, the polyethylene foam may be EVA which is resistant to degradation by ultraviolet radiation. In a further example, 2 lb EVA foam may be used to form band 130 while 5.8 lb polyethylene EVA foam may be used to form crown 110 and brim 120.

In another example, the material of construction has water permeability of less than 5%, a density of less than 1.3 g/cm³, a maximum elongation of greater than 400%, and an R-value of at least R-5.5. In a further example, the material includes a foamed rubber manufactured from limestone-derived acetylene. In a still further example, the material includes a neoprene. In yet another example, the material includes a limestone neoprene. The material may be from about 0.0625 to about 0.25 in. (0.15-0.65 cm) thick. In a further example, the material may be approximately 0.125 in, (0.32 cm) thick.

A hat constructed from materials such as these will remain light, warm, and comfortable in and out of the water. The hat may include smooth but firm panels of the material on the brim portion, such that water is very quickly guided to the back of the hat and drained after a wearer has lifted his/her head out of the water and such that the brim portion is not weighted down by water and does not obstruct the wearer's face.

In another example, hat 100 may be constructed from a base material to which a rubber coating may be applied.

Referring to FIG. 9, in another example, crown portion 110 or a material from which it is formed exhibits a shape memory such that, upon deformation into a crushed, balled or crumpled configuration 1008, crown portion 110 will return to a shape assumed before the deformation 100A. Further, brim portion 120 or the material from which it is formed also exhibit shape memory such that, upon deformation into a crushed, balled or crumpled configuration 100A, brim portion 120 will return to a shape assumed before the deformation 1008.

In an example, the hat is reversible. Referring to FIG. 10, crown portion 110 has a concave surface and a convex surface with an apex 115. Apex 115, upon application of pressure thereto, is configured to transition from a first state 100C on one side of a plane defined through perimeter 111 to a second state 100D on the other side of the plane. Further, upon the application of pressure to apex 115 in first state 100C, concave interior surface 117 is configured to become convex and the convex exterior surface 113 is configured to become concave in second state 100D.

In an embodiment, crown portion 110, brim portion 120 or both also include a jersey material. The jersey material may be applied to parts of the crown portion, parts of the brim portion or both. In an example, a jersey material is applied to at least a part of interior surface 117, to at least a part of exterior surface 113 and to at least a part of superior surface 121. In an example, the jersey material may be applied to the front region and the two side regions of the brim portion. In an example, the jersey material may be applied by a lamination process.

Referring to FIGS. 11 & 12, in an embodiment, the back region of brim portion 220 includes a panel 222 without the jersey material such that a foam rubber surface is configured as a strip extending from crown portion 210, through the back region of brim portion 220 to an outside edge thereof. Panel 222 may be bounded by jersey material 224 at brim portion 220. The jersey material may also be applied to the front region and the two side regions of brim portion 220. In an example, the width of panel 222 is approximately equal to a diameter of crown portion 210. A band 230 of material may wrap crown portion 210 near perimeter 211.

FIG. 13 illustrates a side view of an example hat 300 in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosure. Hat 300 may include a tie strap 340 coupled with crown portion 310, brim portion 320 or both. In an example, tie strap 340 is secured to crown portion 310 by threading through one or more holes (not visible) provided to crown portion 310 near to brim portion 320. Tie strap 340 secures hat 300 in place on the head of a wearer in the event of a fall or windy conditions. A band 330 of material may wrap crown portion 210 near perimeter 211.

FIG. 14 illustrates a front view of a user wearing an example hat 400 in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosure. Front region of brim portion 420 includes one or more snaps 426 for securing the front region of brim portion 420 to crown portion 410 when the front region of the brim portion is folded back and pressed against crown portion 410. In an example, a female component of snaps 426 is provided to brim portion 420 while a male component of snaps 426 is provided to crown portion 410. Alternatively, a male component of snaps 426 is provided to brim portion 420 while a female component of snaps 426 is provided to crown portion 410. In another example, mating components of hook-and-loop faster material may be applied to brim 420 and crown portions 410 for securing front region of brim portion 420 to crown portion 410. A band 430 of material may wrap crown portion 210 near perimeter 211.

In an example, the material or materials from which hats 100, 200, 300 and/or 400 are constructed resist degradation by ultraviolet light. In an example, the crown portion, the brim portion or both have visually striking features, such as highly reflective surfaces, one or more bright colors or a combination of these so that the visibility of a user wearing the hat is increased. For example, the crown portion of the hat may include one or more reflective materials and/or the brim portion may be provided with a red or orange color.

FIG. 15 illustrates flow of an example method for producing a hat. The method includes, at 510, forming a crown portion having interior and exterior surfaces bound by a perimeter. At 520, a brim portion is coupled to the crown portion at the perimeter and includes a front region, a back region, two side regions between the front and back regions, as well as inferior and superior surfaces. In another example, the crown and brim portions may be formed together at the same time as one piece.

A water-draining feature may be formed in or otherwise provided to the brim portion at 530.

In an example construction when the hat is not formed from a foamed rubber base material, a primer may be applied to the crown portion and the brim portion at 540 in preparation for applying a rubber coating to the base material. The rubber coating is then applied to the crown portion and the brim portion at 550.

The method may further include applying a jersey material to parts of the crown portion, parts of the brim portion or parts of both and/or providing visually striking features to the crown portion, the brim portion or both.

In another example, the rubber coating is not applied to portions of the crown interior and a thin piece of EVA foam tape is provided where the crown interior contacts the skin of a wearer. In a further example, the EVA foam tape has a thickness of about 0.1 cm.

It will be appreciated that features of the disclosure are susceptible to being combined in various combinations without departing from the scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Features of any disclosed embodiment may be implemented in one or more of the other disclosed embodiments.

Embodiments of the disclosure are susceptible to being used for various purposes, including, though not limited to, enabling users to quickly drain water from the back of a hat after a user has emerged from beneath the surface of the water, to protect themselves in the event of fall or collision on hard surfaces and to increase their visibility to, for example, parents, guardians, lifeguards or first responders.

Modifications to embodiments of the disclosure described in the foregoing are possible without departing from the scope of the disclosure as defined by the accompanying claims. Expressions such as “including”, “comprising”, “incorporating”, “consisting of”, “have”, “is” used to describe and claim the disclosure are intended to be construed in a non-exclusive manner, namely allowing for items, components or elements not explicitly described also to be present. Reference to the singular is also to be construed to relate to the plural. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A headwear system for protecting a user, comprising: a crown portion having interior and exterior surfaces bound by a perimeter and configured to absorb shock to a head of a wearer in the event of an impact and comprising a material resistant to ultraviolet degradation, a concave surface and a convex surface having an apex; a brim portion coupled to the crown portion at the perimeter and configured to shade portions of a user's head, neck and face from sun while shedding water in a directed and/or controlled manner, the brim portion further comprising a material resistant to ultraviolet degradation; and a band of material wrapping the crown portion near the perimeter; and wherein regions of the crown portion, regions of the brim portion or both further comprise a visually striking feature; and wherein, upon application of pressure to the apex, the apex is configured to transition from one side of a plane defined through the perimeter to the other side of the plane, the concave surface is configured to become convex and the convex surface is configured to become concave.
 2. A hat, comprising: a crown portion having interior and exterior surfaces bound by a perimeter; and a brim portion coupled to the crown portion at the perimeter and including: a front region; a back region; two side regions between the front and back regions; inferior and superior surfaces; and a water-draining feature.
 3. The hat as set forth in claim 2, wherein the water draining feature further comprises two points.
 4. The hat as set forth in claim 3, wherein the water draining feature further comprises a notch.
 5. The hat as set forth in claim 2, further comprising foamed rubber and a jersey material.
 6. The hat as set forth in claim 5, wherein the foamed rubber is manufactured from limestone-derived acetylene.
 7. The hat as set forth in claim 2, wherein the crown portion, the brim portion or both include visually striking features.
 8. The hat as set forth in claim 2, wherein the crown portion further comprises a concave surface and a convex surface with an apex; and wherein upon application of pressure to the apex, the apex is configured to transition from one side of a plane defined through the perimeter to the other side of the plane and the concave surface is configured to become convex and the convex surface is configured to become concave.
 9. The hat as set forth in claim 2, wherein at least one of the crown portion and the brim portion further comprise a material having a low water permeability, low density, high flexibility and excellent thermal insulation properties.
 10. The hat as set forth in claim 2, wherein at least one of the crown portion and the brim portion comprise a material exhibiting shape memory such that, after deformation, the crown portion will return to a shape assumed before the deformation.
 11. The hat as set forth in claim 2, wherein at least one of the crown portion and the brim portion is configured to absorb impact to a head of a wearer in the event of an impact.
 12. The hat as set forth in claim 2, wherein at least one of the crown portion and the brim portion comprises a material resistant to ultraviolet degradation.
 13. A method for producing a hat, comprising: forming a crown portion having interior and exterior surfaces bound by a perimeter; forming a brim portion coupled to the crown portion at the perimeter and including a front region, a back region, two side regions between the front and back regions, as well as inferior and superior surfaces; and applying a rubber coating to the crown portion and the brim portion.
 14. The method as set forth in claim 13, further comprising applying a primer to the crown portion and the brim portion.
 15. The method as set forth in claim 13, further comprising providing a water-draining feature to the brim portion.
 16. The method as set forth in claim 15, wherein providing the water-draining feature further comprises forming a notch.
 17. The method as set forth in claim 13, wherein forming the crown portion and the brim portion further comprises forming the crown portion and the brim portion from foamed rubber.
 18. The method as set forth in claim 17, wherein forming the crown portion and the brim portion from foamed rubber further comprises manufacturing the foamed rubber from limestone-derived acetylene.
 19. The method as set forth in claim 13, further comprising applying a jersey material to parts of the crown portion, parts of the brim portion or parts of both.
 20. The method as set forth in claim 13, further comprising providing visually striking features to the crown portion, the brim portion or both. 